Tbaill. — Antarctic Exploration. 481 



of spirited maritime enterprise had lain as near to Great Britain, 

 we may feel assured that hardy mariners of England and sturdy 

 Dutch navigators would have pushed their way to it hundreds 

 of years ago, even in their small, badly-provisioned ships, desti- 

 tute of steam-power and of many modern appliances. Verily, 

 it would seem that, though their ships were more frail than ours, 

 their hearts at least were not less stout. Daring spirits, how- 

 ever, are still to be found, many of whom now look with longing 

 eyes towards those mysterious unknown regions, and daring 

 deeds will doubtless yet be chronicled by future historians m 

 connection with Antarctic discovery ; but unless we bestir our- 

 selves, and that quickly, it is to be feared that our descendants 

 in New Zealand will not find it recorded that their ancestors 

 took any part in the work ; but, on the contrary, that though 

 nearest of civilized peoples to the unexplored ice-continent, and 

 seeming to aim at being the " Great Britain of the South," they 

 yet remained apathetically in the background and allowed others 

 fi'om a distance to come and do the work, and reap the honour 

 that might have been theirs. 



Putting together the facts here stated, I am led to the con- 

 clusion that the very first step towards economic Antarctic 

 exploration is, on independent grounds, a highly important step, 

 which it is very deshable to take ; that the present time for 

 doing so is opportune ; and that, while the expense may prove 

 to be quite trifling, we may yet expect it to lead to the esta- 

 blishment of a hardy and lucrative industry, the importance of 

 which one can scarcely over-estimate. Any additional industry 

 is important, and is a safeguard against times of depression in 

 the future ; but the importance of this particular industry being 

 successfully established seems really paramount : for, besides 

 being a source of wealth to the Colony, and besides making the 

 great work of Antarctic exploration a matter within our reach, 

 what better nursery could we have for a race of hardy seamen, 

 on whom our childi-en's children may yet have to rely to fight 

 their battles by sea ? 



Thus I have sketched the only way, as far as I can see, by 

 which we might manage Antarctic exploration ourselves. If, 

 however, it is decided to send out a thoroughly equipped expe- 

 dition on the grand scale, for scientific purposes only, then in 

 order to have the best possible guarantee that the work will be 

 done wisely and well, I trust that the Mother Country may be 

 induced to undertake the whole management, selecting trained 

 Arctic explorers, and accepting of assistance from the various 

 Australasian Colonies in the shape of money, and by our pro- 

 visioning the ships. England might, however, give a more 

 wilhng and hearty assent if we had even one steam-whaler here, 

 a fit vessel to despatch in quest of the others in case of any 

 untoward event preventing their return. 



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